Self-priming centrifugal pump



0. HAENTJENS SELF PRIMING CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Oct. 13, 193

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1953 INVENTOR OTTO HAENTJENS BY HIS ATTCRNEYS Oct. 13, 1936. o. HAENTJENS SELF PRIMING CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed March'l8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I'll!!!rn'llllllllllllpt I E 1 a.

INVENTQR OTTO HAENTJ ENS BY HISATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 13, 1936 NITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 11 Claims. (01. 103-113) This invention relates to centrifugal pumps and more particularly to priming means therefor and it is an object of this invention to provide an improved priming means for centrifugal pumps having a priming chamber of small capacity and a pump controlling means so controlled that succes sive fillings and emptying of the priming chamber follow in such quick succession that the 1iq-,

uid flowing to and from-the priming chamber acts as the piston of an air pump and draws the air from the suction line supplying the pump thus making it possible to use'a priming chamber of small capacity to prime a centrifugal pump connected to a suction line of large capacity.

It is also an object of this invention to provide the priming chamber in the form of a single compact unit adapted to be fitted into the suction line-and having walls therein which .form a curved passage constituting part of the suction Y line. The walls forming the curved passage are arranged for conveniently and accessibly mounting a check valve and a screen in the passage. It is also an object of this invention to so arrange the curved passage through the priming I chamber that the liquid is delivered to the pump from the suction line with little or no loss due to friction and passes through the curved passage at substantially constant velocity and without the separation of air therefrom.

It is also an object of this invention to provide means for drawing air which gathers in the pump casing to the priming chamber and discharging it into the liquid stream passing to the pump from the suction line and it is also an object of this invention to provide a priming means of such construction that priming of the pump will be automatically accomplished upon thestarting of the pump motor.

In the drawings-- Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section ofcentrifugal pump and priming chamber constructed in accordance with this invention, the control circuits being shown diagrammatically;

-Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on 5 nn 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. ,3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn to a larger scale and showing the arrangement for drawing air or gas from the priming chamber. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified construction; L M

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn to a larger scale and showing the valve controlling a centrifugal pump l driven by a motor 2 and comprises a casing 4 shown as formed by casting in the preferred manner. The casing 4 comprises a chamber li which serves asa priming chamber for the pump I and is connected through pipe 8 to the suction head. ll) of the pump casing l2. 5 Formed integrally with the casing 4 is a sub- 'stantially inverted U-shaped pipe section I 4 which forms a connection through the casing from the suction inlet IE to the pipe 8. At its upper portion the U-shaped pipe [4 is enlarged to form a 10 chamber I! in which a check valve I8 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 20 extending through a wall of the pipe section I4. The chamber [1 is closed by a cover plate 24 in which there is an opening closed by valve 26, the opening leading either to 15 atmosphere or to the usual discharge pipe 28 of. the pump l. The U-shaped'pipev I4 is also provided with a valve seat 22 engaged by the valve is in closed position and with a seat 29 which is 3|, while access to the valve I 8 is had through cover plate 24. A pipe 32 establishes a connection between the suction head ll! of the pump I and the upper portion of the chamber 6 while open- 5 in'gs' 34 and 36 establish connection between the priming chamber 6 and the lower and upper portions of the pipe l4. To the shaft 20 of the check valve l B is attached an arm 38 which is connected through link 40 to an arm 42 of the switch 44. 30

To operate the motor 2 current is supplied from a suitable source of power through the power lines L, L and a switch 46 which may be either a hand-operated switch as shown or an automatically operated float controlled switch, if de- 35 sired. Upon closing the switch 46 a circuit is established from the line L through lead 48 and the closed contacts 49 of a thermal relay 50 to the solenoid 52 of the automatically operating switch or motor controller 54 and through lead 40 55 to the line L Upon the closure of the controller 54 a circuit is established from lead L through lead 56 and switch 44, lead 51, resistance 58 of the thermal relay 50 and lead 59 to the line 1?. The relay 50 is shown as of a type in 45 which passage of current for a predetermined time through the resistance 58 will cause the contacts 49 to be opened,-interrupting the circuit to the solenoid 52 of the motor controller 54 while the motor controller 54 is of a type in which the 50 circuit through the controller is completed so long as the solenoid 52 is energized and isinterrupted when the current through solenoid 52 is interrupted. As both the thermal relay 50 and the motor controller 54 are of well known types 5 they are 'not illustrated and described in detail and the particular construction thereof forms no part of this invention.

Upon an initial priming of the device water or other liquid is supplied through the funnel 60 and valve 8| until the discharge pipe 28, pump casing I2, pipes 8 and I4 and chamber '8 are filled to the check valve I8, the check valve being.

closed atthis time and preventing flow of the 48 the solenoid 52 is energized, closing the switch 54 to startthe motor-2 and operate the pump I to draw the water 'from the priming chamber 8,

and pipe 8 and discharge the same to the discharge pipe '28. During the discharge of the water from the pump 8 and pipe 8 air is drawn* from the suction inlet I8, which air passes the 1 valve I8 but does not move the valve sufliciently to open switch 44 and interrupt the circuit through the thermalrelay 58. Operationof the p I pump will be continued long enough to complete the discharge of the liquid from the chamber 8 and the pipe 8 while the current in the thermal relay 58 is heating the resistance'58 to the temperature at which the contacts 49 open,- de-' energizing the solenoid 52 and operating the motor controller 54 to 'open the circuit-of the motor 2. Upon the opening of the motor circuit and the stopping of the pump the liquid discharged to discharge pipe 28 flows back through the pump I and pipe-8 to the priming chamber 8, forcing the air in pump I, pipes 8 and I4 and chamber8 out through the valve 28. While thewate is flowing back through the pump to the priming chamber the thermal relay 58 is cooling and upon the return ofthe liquid to the priming chamber 8 the relay 58 is cooled sufllciently to cause the contacts 48 to close, whereupon the solenoid 82 is again energized and the motorcontroller 84v operated to close the circuit of motor 2-to start the pump. The operation of the pump again draws liquid from the chamber 8 and pipe '8 and discharges it to the discharge outlet 28 until the thermal relay 58 is again operated to cause the motor controller 84 to stop the pump. a

The stopping and the starting of the pump is thus repeated at short intervals causing the liquid in the priming chamber 8 and pipe l4 to be forcing it out through the valve 28. lhia 'opera drawn therefrom and be fed back thereto so that the liquid serves as a piston drawing the air from the suction inlet I8 past the valve I8 and tion continues until liquid is drawnirom the suction inlet I8 and supplied to the pump I.- Passage of the liquid from the suction inlet I8 past the valve I8 operatesthe valve I8 to'a' position such asshown in Fig. 1. in which the switch .44

in the circuit of the thermal relay 581s open and the operation of the motor controller 54to stopthepump is prevented until the valve I8 again closes upon the stopping of the flow of liquid from the suction inlet I8, whereupon the pump 2 will be stopped by the operation of the motor controller 54 and liquid willrbeagain supplied from the discharge outlet 28 to the priming chamber 8. Where the switch 48 is a float operated switch operating in accordance with the level ofthe liquid in a sump, operation of the switch 48 to stop the motor upon the emptying of the sump willcause the priming chamber 8 to be fllled'in the same manner as when the motor stopped by operation of the motor controller 58.

During'the operation of the pump more or less air gathers in the inner portion of .the suction head I8, either hfpassing through the .stufling acme-7o I ber.

box 82 or v pump. Inasmuch as the top of the priming chamber 8 isposit'io'ned above thetop of thepump casing I2, the suction at the top of the priming chamber 8 is greater than in the pumpcasing I2 so that the air whichgathers in the pump casing I2, as at the top of the suction head I8, is drawn through pipe 32 to the upper portion of the priming chamber 8. It will be noted that the'port 38 is arranged at the top of the pipe I4 and that that the liquidflowing'through thepipe I4 acts to draw the air from the upper portion of the.

' 8 and through the port 38 into the pipe I4 to be carried by the liquid flowing in the pipe to the discharge outlet 28. Y

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is'pro'videdin priming chamber 8 a float. chamber I88, the walls I8I of which are formed integral with the casing 4 and pipe I4. The'float by separation from the liquid in the chamber I88 is connected to the priming chamber 8 through a large portion I82 in the lower portion of the float chamber and through a restricted port I83 in the upper portion of .the float cham- Port I82 is -controlled by a'valve I84 arranged to open to permit a free flow of liquid from the float chamber I88 to the priming chamber 8 and to close and restrict the flow from the priming chamber 8 to the float chamber I88, the

flow to-the float chamber being through a rein the float chamber I88 is pivotally mounted on a shaft I88 which projects througha removable wall "8 of the float chamber and is provided at,

its outer end-with an arm-H2 to which is'connected one end-ota link I I4, the other end of -whichis connected to anarm II8of a switch 8.

As in the previous modiflcationj current to drive.

the motor 2 to operate the pump I2 is supplied through a switch 48 and a motor controller 54.

Inthis arrangement however, the circuit of the solenoid 52 of the motor controller 54 is.con-

trolled by the switch I I8 operated by the float I81. 7 The operation of this modification is the sameas that of the previous modiflcation, the; capacity of the priming chamber 8 and the float chamber I88 being such that they are emptied and fllledquite rapidly sothat the pump is stoppedandstartedatshortintervalstoflllandempty the priming chamber and float chamber causing theliquid drawn from the float chamber and priming, chamber to; serve as a piston, draw- 4 ing the air from the suction inlet I8 and forcing it'out through the valve 28. The valve I84 opens freely to permit the" discharge of the'fluid from.

the float chamber I88 so-that the float chamber I88 is emptied and the float I81 permitted to fall and operate the switch 8 as the priming chamher is emptied through the port 34 and pipe 8 but the closing of the valve I84 causes the float chamber m to-be. filled through the restricted port I88 in the valve, thus delaying the operation of the float I81 and permitting time for the air the priming chamber'8 and.

provide for the starting and stopping of the pump '-'.1.at shortintervals in order to empty and fill the chamber and thus draw air from the suction inlet I8 and force it out through the valve 10 the shape of the plate I4 at this point is such 26 until the liquid is drawn from the suction inlet I6. It will also be noted that the pipe Iii furnishes a curved passage through which the flow from the suction inlet it to the pump I is uniform when the pump is drawing liquid from the suction inlet it, thus reducing the tendency for air to separate from the liquid in those cases in which there is considerable air in the liquid drawn from the suction inlet l6. It will also be noted that provision is made for the drawing off of such air as accumulates in the pump casing and priming chamber so there is no danger of the device becoming air bound and causing the priming of the pump to be lost.

I claim- 1. The combination with a centrifugal pump of a priming chamber, a suction line, a discharge line, means controlling said pump to discharge fluid from saidpriming chamber to said discharge line and supply fluid to, said priming chamber from said discharge line in timed cycles to draw fluid from said suction line and means interrupting the cyclic changes upon the flow of liquid from the suction line.

' 2. The combination with a centrifugal pump of a motor to operate said pump, a priming chamber, a suction line, a discharge line, automatically operating means comprising a circuit controlling switch controlling the action of said motor to intermittently operate said pump to dis-' charge fluid from said priming chamber to the discharge line and to supply fluid to said priming chamber from said discharge line, and means preventing back flow to said suction line, said means controlling said switch to end the intermittent action of said pump' upon the flow of liquid from said suction line.

3; The combination with a centrifugal pump of a motor to operate said pump, a pr ng chamber, a suction line, a discharge line, lectrically operating means comprising a circuit controlling switch 'controlling the action of said motor to intermittently operate said pump to discharge fluid from saidpriming chamber to said discharge line and supply fluid to said priming chamber from said discharge line, a valve preventing back flow to said suction line and means connecting said switch and valve, said valve being operated to open said circuit andend the intermittent operation of said pump upon the flow of liquid from said suction line.

4. The combination with 'a centrifugal pump of a motorto operate said pump, a priming cham-' ber, a suction line, a discharge line. a float chamber in said priming chamber, a float in said float chamber, a switch operated by said float and controlling said motor to operate said pump to discharge liquid from said priming chamber to thedischargeline and to supply liquid to said priming chamber from said dischargeline to draw liquid from said su tion line and means restricting the flow to said float chamber from said priming chamber to time the operation 'of said pump in emptying and filling said priming chamber.

5. The combination with a centrifugal pump of a motor to operate said pump, a priming chamher, a suction line, a discharge line, a float chamher insaid priming chamber, a float in said float i chamber, a switch operated by said float and controlling sa'id motor tobp'erate said pump to discharge liquid from said priming chamberto said discharge line and to supply liquid to said priming chamber from said discharge line toidraw liquid ing a float chamber within said a continuous passage, a priming chamber for said pump connected at its lower portion to said passage and a'connection for venting air directly from said pump suction head to the upper portion of said chamber, said priming chamber having a port for venting air from the upper portion of said chamber to said passage.

'7. The combination with a centrifugal pum of a suction line leading thereto, a priming chamber therefor, said priming chamber comprising a substantially rectangular casing having partition walls therein forming an inverted U-shaped portion of the suction line and partition walls forming a float chamber within said priming chamber.

8. The combination with a centrifugal pump, of a suction line leading thereto, a priming chamber therefor, said priming chamber comprising a substantially rectangular casing having partition,

walls therein forming an inve'rted U-shaped portion of the suction line and partition walls formber, said partition walls having openings therein establishing connection between said passage and said priming chamber and between said priming and float chambers.

9. The combination with a centrifugal pump,

- of a suction line leading thereto, a priming chamber therefor, said priming chamber comprising a substantially rectangular casing having partition walls therein forming an inverted U-shaped portion of the suction line and partition walls forming a float chamber within said priming chamber, said partition walls having openings therein establishing connection between said passage and said priming chamber and between said priming and float chambers and a valve restricting flow from said priming chamber to said float chamber and operating to permit liquid to flow freely from said float chamber to said priming chamber.

10. The combination with a centrifugal pump having a suction head of a priming chamber, a

suction line, aconnection providing a continuous passage between said suction line and pump comprising a section of inverted U-shape, said passagehaving a connection to the lower portion of said priming chamber, means for venting air priming chamfrom said passage and means connecting said priming chamber and pump suction head, said curvedportion having a port opening into the priming chamber for withdrawing air from said priming chamber and pump suction head when ,the pump is dra ng liquid from the euption line. i

11. The combination with a centrifugal pump, a suctonjine leading thereto, a priming chamber therefor,partiton walls forming a float chamber within said priming chamber, said walls hav ing openings connecting said float and priming chambers'and means connecting said pump and priming chamber for equalizing pressures there-.

. between and allowing said float chamber to drain to said pump upon leakage of air to said pump. I .O'I'IO HAENTJENS. 

